Friday Faces

Hello friends - I hope you've had a great week.
Have you been up to anything creative?

Among other things, I've been working on a sketch for a new stitched profile picture.

This is my drawing which I'll transfer to fabric,
 then use some machine and hand stitching on it.

Cats always feel they need to get in on the act, don't they?

I've also been doing some other portrait sketches - 

they start out more detailed, then I simplify them to make them 

more suitable for stitching.

I'm trying to build up a set of stitched faces, for which I'll make up

little stories, then try to decide how to incorporated the 

stories into the pictures.

We just had a snowstorm here in northern New England yesterday,

with a possibility of more storms coming up.

It sounds like many people are having dreary, messy winters all over, 

which is a good reason to stay inside and be creative.

I hope, wherever you are as you read this, that you will have a 

wonderful weekend. I'm so happy you stopped by!

Friday Faces

Lola

In spite of her demure expression,
Lola can stand up for herself.
Like a certain famous Mary,
she has SPUNK!

(Miss you, Mary Tyler Moore.)

I think Lola would look nice in a

sweet little vintage collage.

What do you think?

Friday Faces - (on Saturday!)

Abigail

She lived in a time when women were silenced,

 docile and obedient,

 not allowed to vote.

She was a gentle soul, a hard worker, 

a dedicated mother and devoted wife.

She had opinions, but kept them to herself.

Her mind was filled with ideas, desires,

questions and resentments,

but these thoughts remained locked inside.

When I was making this picture, with machine and hand stitching and a scrap of

fabric, I was thinking about how wonderful it is that, these days, after years of struggle, women are able to express themselves, vote, protest and march for their beliefs. When I flipped the embroidery over, I realized how much more expressive the reverse side was. 

Women silenced.

Never again!

Friday Faces - "Suzie"

Here's a hand embroidered piece I finished today.

I hope to add a new character with a little story every Friday.

Let's see how it goes!

Susie

She was a child of the 1940's.

Her mother was an immigrant  

who impressed upon her daughter the importance of education.

She heard the words "you are intelligent, strong and capable"

throughout her childhood, and she grew up believing them.

When she was an adult, with a successful career,

she was thankful that her mother's influence had shaped her life,

and she honored her memory by doing the same

for her own daughter.

Here's wishing you

a wonderful weekend!